Nurses keep up heartbeat of 379th AEW

  • Published
  • By Airman Alexis Lloyd
  • 379th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
SOUTHWEST ASIA (AFPN) --  In stark contrast to the white sheets of the hospital bed and a patient in a light blue paper gown, a nurse in a brown and tan desert camouflage uniform checks the patient’s vital signs on the nurse’s ward.

In lieu of the clinically white uniform, the seven-person nursing team wears combat boots and offers patient care to the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing at a forward-deployed location.

With more than 70 years of combined experience, the 379th Expeditionary Medical Group nurses element provides nursing care to active-duty, coalition forces, government civilians and contractors. At times, they stabilize third-country workers before transferring them downtown.

“When you have this many people on a base, invariably someone is going to need nursing care due to illness or injuries,” said Lt. Col. Helen Rayburn, the chief nurse who is deployed from the South Dakota Air National Guard. “Our primary mission is to provide nursing care to individuals (here) if and when they are hospitalized.”

One unique aspect of the nurses’ deployments is the air evacuation mission.

“Aerovac involves a large portion of our duties,” said Maj. Lori Menke, the inpatient element chief who is also deployed from the South Dakota ANG. “It’s been interesting to learn how the whole process works.”

The hospital here acts as a holding facility for people who require more extensive care.

“These individuals are (flown) to facilities in Germany or at times to their home station,” Colonel Rayburn said.

The 379th EMDG medics have the capability to do various surgeries including appendectomies. The nurses provide patients with post-operative care in the intensive care unit until they are stable enough to be transferred to the ward.

“I’m the mean one,” said Capt. Michael Cowan, a 379th EMDG nurse who is deployed from the Vermont ANG. “I make them get out of bed and walk around, which helps speed up their recovery time.”

There are not many situations these nurses said they have not faced before.

“With all the experience the nurses have, we are well-rounded and have the background and knowledge to take care of our patients,” Captain Cowan said.